As a triage supervisor, what is required before treatment begins?

Before any treatment begins in a triage situation, it is essential that all patients have been triaged. Triage is the process of prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition and the urgency of their medical needs. This ensures that those who require immediate medical intervention receive it without delay, while also organizing the care of less critical patients.

The triage process helps to efficiently allocate limited resources, especially in a situation where multiple patients may be affected, such as in a mass casualty incident. Without performing triage first, there's a risk that critical patients may not receive prompt attention, or that less severe cases may divert resources away from those who need it most.

This systematic approach allows responders to establish order amidst chaos, ultimately leading to better outcomes for those in need of medical care. In this context, prioritizing all patients for triage is a foundational step before any medical treatment can be appropriately administered.